The Nigerian Government on Tuesday disbursed N250,000 in unconditional grants to selected small business owners in Ondo State, reinforcing its nationwide campaign to strengthen Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as engines of local development and job creation.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking at the launch of the 7th edition of the Expanded National MSMEs Clinics in Akure, described the grants as a clear sign of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to empowering local entrepreneurs. He emphasised that the support was not a loan but a direct gift from the Nigerian people to outstanding businesses that have continued to drive innovation and resilience at the grassroots.
According to Shettima, each qualified MSME identified during the clinic will receive N250,000 as part of efforts to scale their operations and impact. He praised the sector as the lifeblood of the economy, contributing over 45 percent to Nigeria’s GDP and providing livelihoods for more than 60 million citizens.
The Vice President stated that the Tinubu administration sees MSMEs not just as economic actors but as “silent architects of survival” and the “pulse of every community.” He said any credible poverty alleviation plan must be anchored on the opportunities and jobs created by this sector.
Highlighting other government-backed initiatives, Shettima pointed to the N75 billion MSME Intervention Fund through the Bank of Industry, a separate N50 billion grant scheme targeting one million nano businesses with N50,000 each, and a N75 billion Manufacturers Fund offering up to N1 billion in single-digit loans.
He urged business owners in Ondo to take full advantage of the opportunities provided at the clinics, which were created to connect small businesses directly with regulators, financial institutions, and support agencies. He said this interface enables participants to resolve bureaucratic and operational challenges in real-time.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State commended the federal government for prioritising enterprise development, noting that the MSME-focused agenda aligns with his administration’s achievements across agriculture, manufacturing, and the creative economy. He described the support from Abuja as transformational for local businesses.
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji also praised the initiative, describing it as the first deliberate federal intervention that directly bridges the gap between policy and grassroots implementation. He said the move brings development closer to the people.
Traditional leaders and stakeholders echoed the sentiment. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, urged Nigerians to promote made-in-Nigeria goods and local entrepreneurship, describing MSMEs as essential to national self-reliance. The Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Chiefs, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, applauded recent economic reforms and pledged traditional institutions’ support for developmental efforts.
Director General of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, said the feedback from the clinics has been overwhelmingly positive, noting that the one in Ondo, like others before it, has begun to produce tangible results for participants.
Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, said the clinic has become a tool for real-time resolution of bottlenecks, making it easier for small businesses to navigate the regulatory environment.
During a courtesy call on the Ondo State Council of Chiefs, the Vice President described President Tinubu as a bold reformer and “a son of the South West” who has championed key national reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and efforts to cut multiple taxation.
The day concluded with an exhibition tour, where Shettima, alongside governors and other dignitaries, engaged small business owners from Ondo and neighbouring states. The clinic reaffirmed the government’s strategic focus on grassroots economic empowerment as a vital step toward long-term national growth.
